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The citizens of Columbia County are indeed fortunate to have Wayne Bridges as a candidate seeking the office of Tax Commissioner.

As a certified public accountant with nearly 20 years of experience as a chief financial officer in the private sector, Wayne Bridges is eminently qualified to handle the technical aspects of this important position.

Tom Schneider is running for Tax Commissioner! As his doctor for the past 20 years, I am very happy to support his campaign. Tom is smart, conservative, honest, hard working and deeply religious. He is the right person to restore public confidence to this important county management position.

Tom was the CEO of the ambulance company that served the county’s sick and injured for 15 years.

He served Columbia County for 25 years on the Board of Tax Assessors, including being selected as chairman of this group.

On Aug. 3, I fell and was unable to get up. I called the sheriff’s department and Capt. Butch Askew answered the phone. Within minutes he had an ambulance and another sheriff taking me to Eisenhower Hospital, saving my life. Capt. Askew assisted the ambulance getting me to the hospital. He also called my nearest relative, Dr. John Otts, in Dublin, Ga., who met me in the surgery room.

On Tuesday, July 15, 2014, New York Yankees star Derek Jeter played his final All-Star game. He went 2-for-2 with a run scored and left in the top of the fourth to a three minute ovation from the Target Field crowd. He received more love, admiration, and respect than a Medal of Honor recipient. That’s how it is in America. Athletes, actors, and music artist are treasured more than veterans. A Bible quote says, “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”

When Ron Cross first ran for Columbia County Commission Chairman in 2002, members of my family participated in a campaign message that was significant to us, especially as a family with young children – supporting strong community values, a vibrant and growing economy, as well as appreciation for our wonderful school system, law enforcement and overall quality of life.

It was important to us to have a leader, like Ron Cross, in place to help maintain our optimism and strive to keep the best interests of Columbia County in mind.

Putting the needs of all of Columbia County’s citizens first, even its young ones, is a priority of Chairman Ron Cross. Part of those needs include making available quality recreational facilities to provide opportunities for those young people to engage in healthy, family- oriented activities.

In that respect, Chairman Cross and Columbia County have hit a home run! While traveling throughout the Southeast, my family and I have noticed that our county recreational opportunities are second to none.

As part of my voice to help other bereaved parents that will follow in my footsteps, I have joined fellow grieving dads Kelly Farley and Barry Kluger to assist them with bringing awareness to the Farley-Kluger Initiative (www.FarleyKluger.com). Over 61,000 petitions have already been sent to Washington, D.C.; many of these petitions have been signed by residents of Georgia.